We need to be constantly asking the Lord for discernment, especially when ministering to others. We can get caught in the weeds with someone who talks the talk, but their actions are a far cry from where they need to be Spiritually. Just look at Judas & Peter. Peter had a bad day, made unwise choices, but realized the err of his way and repented. While Judas had a bad heart, made unwise choices, but pride, greed, and unrepentance led to his downfall. Asking the Lord for insight & wisdom will help us to grasp & comprehend a person’s heart…for with the Holy Spirit’s direction, we can then restore the Peter and release the Judas.
Category: Daily Inspirational Devotional
II Chronicles 5:13 ” He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever.”
God still loves us when we mess up. And as this verse says, we should praise and honor Him for His enduring goodness, mercy, and loving kindness extended to us. I John 4:16 tells of this love, shown in God’s Covenant…His faithfulness and relentless pursuit of sinners in spite of our rebellion or indifference. God still loves us when we mess up. And He’s not an “I told you so” kind of God when we do. Isaiah 43:25 tells us that He blots out and graciously forgives & forgets our sins…remembering them no more. Yes, God still loves us…when we’re overwhelmed, when we’re full of doubt, when we fail…He still loves us.
Jeremiah 32:17 ” Nothing is too hard for You.”
Impossible isn’t a word in God’s vocabulary. From His response in Genesis 18:14 to an incredulous Sarah, to Jesus’ response in Matthew 19:26 about Salvation when He said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” To even in Romans 4:21, where Paul reminds us, that God has the power to do what He promises. So today, as you look at your current situation in all its unattainable & hopeless conditions…remember that nothing is impossible for God, and He is able to do immeasurably more than all you can ask or even imagine. (Ephesians 3:20)
Psalm 18:32 “It’s the Lord Who equips me with strength and makes my way perfect.”
God doesn’t call the already equipped – He equips those He calls. Think about that for a moment. If we, in our own self, feel we’re equipped for something, chances are it’s because of pride and self rather than God’s work within. Being equipped by the Lord isn’t a one and done encounter…it’s a Season of learning, abiding, and perfecting until we are thoroughly equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:17) My prayer for you today is that our Lord Jesus Christ would equip you with everything good for doing His Will. (Hebrews 13:21)
I Kings 20:40 ” While your servant was busy here and there, the man disappeared.”
One of the prophets, probably a member of the prophetic guild led by Elijah & Elisha, was sitting by the side of the road…intentionally wounded & disguised. As King Ahab passed by, he told him a “story” about guarding a captive but allowing him to escape because he was too busy with other things. When the King passed judgment on him, the prophet quickly turned it back on him as God’s judgment on King Ahab’s evil dealings. This prophet used the excuse of busyness in order to execute God’s displeasure, and it is busyness today that will get us into trouble too. Busy work, however wonderful it is to further God’s Kingdom, when done at the detriment of other priorities, is just something that looks productive, but only keeps us occupied & often drowns out His Voice. If your “good works” are taking you away from your main priorities of God & family…should they even be considered good works?
I Timothy 2:1 ” First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people.”
Prayers of all sorts are the foundation of a productive Christian Walk. Intercessory prayer is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit through which God is glorified. True intercessory prayer is void of deception and pride, for our focus is on others not ourselves. It’s not necessary to even tell that person we’re praying for them, for in that hides the puffed-up egotism of “Look what I’m doing for you!” No, intercession is between God & you when the Holy Spirit prompts you to pray for a particular person. Granted though, there may come a divine appointment when that person comes across your path and your Word of encouragement about intercessory prayer on their behalf is truly an answer to their intimate petitions before God.
Mark 2:16-17 ” When the teachers of the Law who were Pharisees saw Him eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they asked His disciples: ‘Why does He eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ On hearing this, Jesus said to them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.’ “
The social & religious gap between the sanctimoniously elite, “the righteous” and the general population, “the sinners” was wide & long. The Pharisees here wouldn’t even come into the home where Jesus was eating…regarding table fellowship with sinners especially defiling. But it quickly became clear the declaration of His mission…a mission of repentance & eternal Salvation. And as the Great Physician, Jesus intentionally sought out the sick, both physically & spiritually…healing them mind, body, & soul. We see this throughout the New Testament…Jesus hung out with sinners…not because He wanted to appear politically correct, inclusive, or tolerant, but in order to call them to a changed and fruitful life. Thus the focus of His mission always was transformation…not affirmation of sin.
Zechariah 14:9 ” The Lord will be King over the whole earth. On that day there will be one Lord, and His Name the only Name.”
Both Zechariah and Obadiah (Obadiah 21) delivered seemingly apocalyptic prophecies…foreshadowing the Second Coming of the Messiah and His all powerful dominion. These promises will be fulfilled in Revelation 11:15 which says, “The Kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ, and He will reign for ever and ever.” We hear this elsewhere in the New Testament as the Apostle Paul teaches about the Second Coming, final judgment, and triumph of God’s Kingly rule in Ephesians 4:5-6 as the one and only true God, “One Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, Who is over all and through all and in all.” Many gods will rise and fall, but only God rules as King over everything.
Galatians 3:11 “The righteous will live by faith.”
Knowledge about God doesn’t equal faith in God. Just because you understand about Him doesn’t mean you actually believe & trust in Him…And Satan is a really good example of this concept. Satan knows God very well, well enough to come into His Presence and interact with Him. (Job 1:6) Satan knows that God is the one and only God Almighty, but he is void of personal trust. (James 2:19) Finally, Satan knows and can even quote Scripture, as seen when Jesus was tempted by him in the wilderness, but he lacks the clear perception of what the living Word is. We can possess all knowledge about God and have the entire Bible memorized but if we only believe intellectually and not by faith, we have nothing.
Psalm 119:42 “I will trust in Your Word.”
The only thing we can fully trust & believe in are the promises of God and His Word. We can’t trust our heart, for our heart can be duped and led to believe in untruths. (Jeremiah 17:9) We can’t trust our flesh, for our flesh fails us miserably to stand against falsehoods. (Matthew 26:41) Neither can we trust our mind, for our mind is depraved, corrupt, and evil. (I Timothy 6:5) We can’t even trust our conscience to correctly choose right from wrong when being led astray by false teachers. (I Timothy 4:2) Finally, we shouldn’t trust our friend’s personal opinions, biases, and slants/twists on God’s Word. (Psalm 41:9) The only thing we can fully trust in is God’s Word…for it is living, (Hebrews 4:12) fire, (Jeremiah 23:29 and flawless. (Proverbs 30:5)
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